Dearest Friend,

HOW I have regretted not answering your very friendly letter all those years ago. I made a decision not to answer it as I had just heard that a relative of yours had committed a minor offence. Looking back I can hardly believe that I took offence at something that had nothing to do with you, however it would have affected you as you were such a decent person. At a time you needed support I deliberately withheld it. I am so sorry and for years I have wanted to make amends. I am a different person now with totally different attitudes.

Life moved on and I did not know where you were to contact you as there was no social media then. I had hoped you would attend a special work reunion held a few decades ago, but you were not there and when I inquired about you I was told you had committed suicide. I was totally shocked and heartbroken to hear this and felt so guilty as I felt I had contributed to you feeling so down.

I tried to find out where you were buried but nobody knew. I thought about you constantly. Years later I visited a relative in hospital who was dying, and after the funeral the family sent me her obituary. I was dumbfounded to find your obituary on the same page. You had been in the same hospital when I had visited; if I had known you were there I could have seen you. How did a false story about you committing suicide happen? You had been alive all those years and had a successful life according to your obituary, which I was glad about. I will now be able to find your grave Rest in peace Dear Friend, Your Loving Friend xxx Name and address with editor